I signed up for The Insiders to see if its product testing campaigns are worth your time. It is legit, but it pays no money: you try products, and many campaigns ask you to buy the product at a discount. Below is what I found, and which sites I recommend if you want to earn cash.
Tested by Mikael (EarnWithMike)Founder and lead testerMikael founded PaidFromSurveys in 2016 and has personally tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites since then. He shows his tests and payment proof to 555K+ subscribers on his YouTube channel, EarnWithMike. He signed up for The Insiders himself and does not earn a commission from it.Learn more about Mikael
Last retested · First published
Legit product testing, but you earn no money
You try products and post about them. Many campaigns ask you to buy the product at a discount. No cash rewards.
On this page
The short answer
The Insiders is legit, but it does not pay you. It is a product testing site: if you are selected for a campaign, you receive the product, try it at home and share your opinion online.
Many campaigns ask you to buy the product, at an exclusive Insiders discount. The Insiders does not tell you its discount rates up front. Campaigns run for a month or two and need several activities and reports. If you want to earn extra cash, The Insiders is not for you.
- A decent number of campaigns to try new products
- Discounts on home appliances and electronics
- Popular brands
- You can help shape how brands improve their products
- Mobile-friendly website
- No monetary rewards
- Many campaigns ask you to buy the product
- Discount rates are not published up front
- Campaigns run for a month or two and need regular reports
- Only available in several countries
My experience with The Insiders
I signed up for The Insiders and looked at the registration, the profile and surveys, the campaigns and their details, the mobile site and the support. I made a video that gives you an inside look. This is what I did myself, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- April 2023Review first published Apr 6, 2023
- Latest retest
- Checked: campaigns, rewards, support
- Rewards
- Products, not moneySome campaigns let you keep the product
- Campaign length
- More than a month or twoWith regular reports
- Signing up and confirming my email
- Completing my profile and the surveys that unlock campaigns
- The campaigns and the campaign details
- The website on a mobile phone
- The FAQ and the Help page
- Buying a product for a campaign. I did not get to that point, so I cannot say how big the discounts are.
- Receiving a product, or a contest prize. My review does not show either.
An inside look at The Insiders
In the video below, I give you an inside look and show exactly how The Insiders works. The Insiders does not pay money, so there is no payment proof.
Screenshots from my test
The Insiders at a glance
| What it is | A product testing site: you try out new products at home and share your opinion |
|---|---|
| Cost to join | Free. Many campaigns ask you to buy the product at an exclusive Insiders discount. |
| What you get | Products to try, which you can keep in some campaigns, and contest prizes in some campaigns. No money. |
| What you do in return | Share your thoughts about the product online, post about it on social media, and submit reports |
| Products | Appliances like printers, flat-screen TVs and laptops, plus food, clothes and more, mostly from popular brands |
| Campaign length | Most run for more than a month or two |
| Timeline | An answer on your application within two weeks; the product usually arrives in around two weeks |
| Returns | If you bought the product and do not like it, you can send it back free of charge. The refund can take a few weeks. |
| App | No app. The website is mobile-friendly. |
| Where you can join | Several countries, shown under the country logo at the top of the website |
| Support | FAQ page, and a contact form through the “Contact Us” button on the Help page |
Is The Insiders legit and safe?
Yes, The Insiders is legit. If you are selected for a campaign, you really receive the product. But it is not a way to earn money. Here is what you should know before you join.
- You do not get paid
You will not get paid to try out the products. The best you can hope for is to keep the product, or to win a prize in a campaign contest. Not all campaigns hold contests.
- Many campaigns ask you to buy the product
Expensive products, like flat-screen TVs, gas ranges and refrigerators, are not free. You buy them at an exclusive Insiders discount. The Insiders does not tell you its discount rates up front. Look at the discount on the campaign and compare the price with other shops before you buy.
- Campaigns take commitment
Most campaigns run for more than a month or two, with several activities and reports. If you do not submit your reports on time, The Insiders will not accept you in future campaigns.
- You post about the product online
Campaigns usually ask you to share your thoughts online and to post about the product, with photos, on your social media. The point is to create buzz around the product.
- Refunds take a while
If you bought a product and do not like it, you can send it back to The Insiders free of charge. The refund can take a few weeks to process.
My takeIn my opinion, the value The Insiders provides is not monetary. It lets you test out products and help shape how brands improve them. If that is something you value, it can be worth joining, and it can be a good way to buy home appliances at a lower price. But if all you are after is earning extra cash, then The Insiders is not for you.
The Insiders does not pay money. The top survey and GPT sites in your country really pay you in cash or other rewards.
See the best sites in your countryHow campaigns work on The Insiders
Technically, you do not earn on The Insiders. You take part in campaigns to try new products. Tap a step to read more.
Apply for a campaignWithin two weeks
Log in to the member dashboard. Once you have completed your profile and answered all the surveys, you see all the campaigns available. Click a campaign for the full details, and read what it asks you to do.
If you are interested, click “Subscribe Now”. Within two weeks, The Insiders emails you whether you are accepted, so check your inbox regularly.
Receive or buy the productAround two weeks
If you are accepted, the product is shipped to the address you gave at registration. It usually takes around two weeks to arrive.
Some campaigns ask you to buy the product, at an exclusive Insiders discount. From what I observed, there are lots of these campaigns. If you do not like a product you bought, you can send it back free of charge for a refund, which can take a few weeks.
Share, post and reportA month or two
With the product, you get full instructions by email. Usually you share your thoughts about the product online and post about it, with photos, on your social media. During the campaign, you also submit reports.
Submit your reports on time. If you do not, The Insiders will not accept you in future campaigns. The activities do not take a lot of time, but you have to do several of them.
Campaign contestsPrizes, not guaranteed
Some campaigns hold contests, such as photo contests, most active members, best social media posts or best reviews. Winners are announced in the campaign’s final newsletter. Prizes are usually products, shipped by the campaign manager within a few weeks, depending on your location. Not all campaigns hold contests.
How much can you make?
You will not earn anything from The Insiders. The closest you get to earning money is the discount on products you buy, plus the products you get to keep for taking part in campaigns.
The Insiders does not tell you its discount rates up front, and I did not get to the point where I had to buy a product for a campaign, so I cannot say how big the discounts are.
If you are on the hunt for a product The Insiders has a campaign for, it can be a way to get it at a lower price. But if you want to earn money, see the top sites that pay via PayPal instead.
Who can join The Insiders?
The Insiders is available in several countries. Click the country logo at the top of its website to see the list. If your country is not on it, you cannot join.
To sign up, fill out the registration form and click “Become an Insider”. Click the link in the confirmation email, then log in to the member dashboard. Complete your profile and answer the surveys on your first login to unlock the campaigns.
There is no app, but the website is mobile-friendly. You will most likely use your phone at least once during a campaign, to post on social media.
What 4 readers told me
This review has 4 comments since 2023: 2 from readers and 2 replies from me. This is what readers wrote about.
A reader was afraid to apply, because the discount is not clear and the products are expensive. You can usually see the discount on a campaign before you buy.
A reader found the exclusive Insiders price higher than sale prices on the same item. Compare prices with other shops before you buy.
“I’ve been interested in several products, but I’m always too afraid to apply bc they don’t tell you how much of a discount you get & the stuff I’d like to try is always expensive, like fridges, dishwasher, mattresses, etc.”
Mikael: You can usually always see the discounts before investing. … not a platform I really recommend because I think the system is confusing and not very beneficial as a consumer.
The Insiders alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Opinion | High pay per survey and fast payouts, in more than 70 countries | $5 or $10 for PayPal, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| Swagbucks | Many daily ways to earn, one of the biggest GPT sites | About $5 PayPal | 4.3 / 5 |
| Freecash | Games and offers that pay well, best in Tier 1 countries | $5 for PayPal, gift cards and crypto | 4.2 / 5 |
| Try and Review | Product tests with free shipping; you keep the products | Products only | 3.0 / 5 |
| Home Tester Club | Free products to test, in 27 countries | Products only | 2.5 / 5 |
Want to earn cash for your opinion? See the top survey and GPT sites in your country. They really pay you in cash or other rewards.
How I scored The Insiders
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. See how I test and rate.
The Insiders scores 40 out of 100. If you want to earn money, see these sites first.
See the best sites in your countryThe Insiders FAQ
Is The Insiders a scam?
No. The Insiders is a legit product testing site, and you receive the product if you are selected for a campaign. But it does not pay money.
Does The Insiders pay you?
No. You will not get paid to try out the products. You can keep the product in some campaigns, and some campaigns hold contests with prizes.
Do I have to buy the products?
In many campaigns, yes. You buy the product at an exclusive Insiders discount. If you do not like it, you can send it back free of charge for a refund, which can take a few weeks.
How long does a campaign take?
Most campaigns run for more than a month or two. You do several activities, such as posting on social media, and submit reports on time.
How long until I hear back?
Within two weeks of your application, The Insiders emails you whether you are accepted. The product usually arrives in around two weeks after that.
Who can join The Insiders?
People in the countries listed under the country logo at the top of its website. If your country is not listed, you cannot join.
Does The Insiders have an app?
No. The website is mobile-friendly, so you can use the member dashboard on your phone.
How do I contact The Insiders support?
Check the FAQ page first. Otherwise, go to the Help page, click “Contact Us” and fill out the form.
Who tested The Insiders for this review
Founder of PaidFromSurveys.com since 2016. Mikael has tested hundreds of survey and GPT sites and shares his tests with 555K+ subscribers on YouTube (October 2026).
If you have any comments, questions, or experience with The Insiders, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
How much of a discount did you get on the items you reviewed and what all did you review? I’ve been interested in several products, but I’m always too afraid to apply bc they don’t tell you how much of a discount you get & the stuff I’d like to try is always expensive, like fridges, dishwasher, mattresses, etc.
You can usually always see the discounts before investing. BUT I do agree it is a but risky and not a platform I really recommend because I think the system is confusing and not very beneficial as a consumer.
This site is really raking in money off of people by selling things at a “exclusive insiders price”, often times higher than sale prices on the item.
ALSO, knowing the business model of how these companies work, THEY CAN AFFORD TO GIVE YOU THE ITEM FOR FREE since other even smaller companies that are in the same business given out the items for free. How can they do this you ask, but not The Insiders? Easy. These companies are being paid large sums of money for this marketing AND often times given predetermined units to send to the testers. The insiders is simply double dipping asking for money from the testers, who by the way are putting in work and effort writing a review AND following other numerous instructions by the Insiders Campaigns.
Unless the Insiders (or any other WoM marketing companies) give you the item for free (sometimes with an additional gift card incentive), do not offer to do anything for them.
This article seems somewhat biased and does not mention any of these know business tactics, which begs the question of the author was paid for this article to promote them.
First of all, thanks for sharing your experiences and opinion.
Secondly, please do not make false accusations against me without looking at all the work I out into my website and all the details I give. You say my article is biased and maybe I got paid to write it – you really think a company would pay me to write a review of them that gives 2 out of 5 stars and directly say that I recommend other methods.
I welcome others to share their opinions and experiences here in the comment section but please have the respect to talk properly to me and do not make false accusations. And please have the respect to look at what I actually write before jumping to conclusions.